Fretboard Brewing Puts Substance in Familiar Styles
At Fretboard Brewing Company, the music theme is easy to notice, but the more lasting impression comes from the beer itself. The brewery’s lineup is approachable in style, but grounded in a way that gives the beers a recognizable identity. Across a four-beer flight, that quality came through as an earthy thread — not a flaw, but a distinction.
The flight included Vlad Pilsner, Hop Plane, Bootsy IPA, and Trey Amber Lager. Though each beer remained true to its own style, the samples shared a sense of substance and ingredient quality. Crisp, herbal, bright, and malty notes moved through the lineup, while an earthy thread gave the beers a recognizable Fretboard character.
Vlad Pilsner opened the flight with crisp structure and balance. Light, clean, and smooth, it had the restrained bitterness and gentle malt character expected from a European-style pilsner. It was refreshing while still carrying structure, making it a strong first pour.
Hop Plane continued the lager theme with more aromatic detail. Its noble-hop character brought Fretboard Brewing Puts Substance in familiar Stylish herbal, floral, and lightly spicy notes, while the malt stayed soft and clean. Understated rather than showy, it offered personality without sacrificing drinkability.
Bootsy IPA moved the flight into brighter territory. Associated with Cincinnati music legend Bootsy Collins, the beer had a livelier personality, with citrus-forward flavor and a dry finish. Its hop character brought energy without becoming harsh, and the grounded quality found in the other beers kept it from turning sharp or overpowering. It was an approachable IPA with brightness and balance.
Trey Amber Lager closed the flight on a maltier note. With its deeper color, rounded body, and toasted character, it brought warmth and balance to the tasting. After the cleaner lagers and brighter IPA, Trey offered a fuller close to the flight, drawing on malt depth without becoming heavy.
With the meal, we each ordered a pint of Fretboard Light Select Premium Lager, which proved more memorable than expected from a light beer. At only $5 a mug, it was an impressive value. Low in calories but not lacking in character, the lager had a gentle grain-and-nutty malt note, soft carbonation, and a clean finish. It was refreshing and easy to drink, while still carrying enough presence to belong in the same Fretboard family.
The pint paired naturally with the meal. Fretboard’s food menu is built around casual, hearty taproom favorites, including smash burgers, smoked wings, BBQ sandwiches, loaded fries, cheese curds, pretzel bites, onion rings, salads, and sweet finishers. We chose the smash burgers, and they were delicious — juicy, flavorful, and right at home beside Fretboard Light. The pairing suited the visit: casual, hearty, and built around straightforward quality. Served with crisp lettuce, tomato, onion, and melted cheese on a toasted bun, the burgers brought the meal beyond an afterthought and made the food part of the brewery’s appeal.
Together, the flight, pint, and food made for a relaxed and satisfying brewery experience. The flight moved from crisp and herbal to bright and malty. The Light Select Lager brought easy refreshment to the meal. The smash burgers delivered the hearty comfort that belongs in a taproom.
Fretboard’s strength is not simply that it offers familiar beer styles. It is that those styles carry substance, texture, and a recognizable character of their own. For visitors looking for flavorful beer, satisfying food, and a little Cincinnati music personality built into the experience, Fretboard Brewing Company is well worth the visit.
